I slowly opened my eyes.
My vision was blurry, my head heavy.
"Where… am I?" I muttered.
This wasn't my room.
Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, and the smell of clean sheets filled the air. I was lying on a bed—a bed that clearly didn't belong to me.
A stranger's bedroom…?
Before I could move, the door creaked open.
"Oh, you're finally awake."
I turned my head toward the voice. A young woman stood there, wearing a simple maid's uniform. Her expression was calm.
"Where am I?" I asked weakly. "And… who are you?"
"I'm a maid of this mansion," she replied politely.
At that moment, another figure peeked in from behind her and quickly stepped inside.
"Oh, you're awake!"
I turned my head slightly toward the voice.
"Hikaru?" I said weakly, still lying on the bed.
he smiled with visible relief.
"I'm glad you survived."
Her words made my heart skip.
"Survived…?" I whispered.
"But how am I even alive?"
"I know a bit of healing magic," he said with a small smile.
"It wasn't easy, but you made it."
I let out a slow breath. So that's why…
"Then… where exactly am I?"
"This is my master's mansion."
"And your master?" I asked.
"He's resting in his room right now. Would you like to meet him?"
"Yes," I replied without hesitation. "I want to."
he shook her head gently.
"Not yet. First, you should rest. Once you recover, I'll take you to him."
"…Alright."
A day passed.
My body felt much lighter now, almost normal.
I can move again.
Curiosity got the better of me.
"I'll just take a short walk," I told myself.
I stepped out and began exploring the mansion.
It was enormous.
Long corridors, tall ceilings, polished floors—this place was nothing like the world I came from.
Suddenly—
"Are you Xiao Yan?"
I froze.
I turned around to see an old man standing behind me.
"Yes," I answered cautiously. "I am. But… who are you?"
"I'm the owner of this mansion."
"…So that means," I said slowly, "you're Hikaru's master?"
"Yes."
Despite his age, his body was well-built, muscles clearly defined beneath his clothes. His sharp eyes examined me from head to toe.
"I'm glad to see you in good health," he said.
He nodded, then smiled faintly.
"Hm… you're trying to become a knight, aren't you?"
"Yes," I admitted.
"But I don't know how to fight at all."
"Good," he said.
"I'll teach you myself."
My eyes widened.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes!" I replied instantly.
"Then follow me."
Behind the mansion lay a massive training ground.
Weapons, dummies, magic circles—everything was there.
When we arrived, I couldn't help but stare.
"This place is… huge."
He turned toward me.
"Tell me," he said calmly,
"What do you want to learn?"
"…What do you mean, Master?"
"Swordsmanship, magic, or something else."
I clenched my fists.
"I want to learn swordsmanship and magic."
"Very well," he nodded.
"We'll start with magic."
"…I'm ready."
"Close your eyes," he instructed.
"Focus on your mana."
"In your stomach lies a Mana Cube. Feel it. Let it flow into your hands.
Then imagine what you want to create."
I closed my eyes.
I focused.
Slowly… I felt something.
Warm. Heavy. Powerful.
This is mana…
Suddenly—
"Agh…!"
I grabbed my stomach.
It burned.
No—it hurt.
"It hurts!" I cried.
"My stomach—!"
"What happened, Xiao Yan?" he asked sharply.
"I-It feels like something's tearing me apart…!"
My vision darkened.
My breath grew shallow.
Then—
Everything went silent.
…Where am I?
I opened my eyes.
There was nothing.
No ground. No sky.
Just endless emptiness.
"…An empty space?"
My voice echoed back to me.
"What am I doing here? Is this… inside my body?"
I looked around desperately.
"Is there an exit?"
"…Am I trapped?"
My chest tightened.
"H-Hello?"
"Is anyone here?"
"…Hello?"
Then—
Out of nowhere—
"Just shut up, you idiot."
I froze.
That presence…
it didn't feel human—
but it didn't feel hostile either.